Fred Itua, Abuja
Some members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), in Nuremberg, Germany, yesterday, attacked the former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu.
The senator, who gave the account of the event on his social media handle, @iamekweremdu, however, assured Ndigbo and his supporters across the nation that he was safe.
The IPOB members could be seen in a trending social media video pelting Ekweremadu for reasons that are not yet known at press time.
The viral video indicated that a rowdy session erupted at a meeting attended by Igbo in the country and which Ekweremadu had attempted to attend.
In the video, former Ekweremadu could be seen being whisked away in an ash saloon car after it seemed his presence was not welcomed at the meeting.
The IPOB youths pelted him with objects from the hall down to the car that drove him away despite efforts by his aides to stop them.
Narrating the incident, Ekweremadu said: “I attended the Second Annual Cultural Festival and Convention organised by Ndi-Igbo Germany in Nurnberg today where I was billed to give a keynote address along with the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, who, however could not make it eventually.
“I was given a resounding welcome by Ndigbo in Germany and everything went smoothly until some men, who identified themselves as IPOB members stormed the venue and began to complain about the killings in the South East, stressing that there would be no Igbo event at the venue.
“I tried to engage them, but when they became unruly, I had to leave the venue. The organisers also invited the police and I was accompanied out of the venue.
“Much as I am disappointed in their conduct, especially as I am one of the persons, who have spoken up on justice for Ndigbo, the Python Dance, judicial killings in Igbo land and elsewhere both on the floor of the Senate and in my written and personal engagements with the Presidency and the media as well as rallied the South East Senate Caucus to secure Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s release with Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe taking him on bail to douse tension in the South East, I nevertheless do not hold this to heart against them, for they know not what they do.
“I have received thousands of solidarity calls and messages from well meaning Ndigbo. I want to assure them that I am hail and hearty. I have also spoken with the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Yusuf Tuggar.”